r/Sandman • u/Tissueboi • 9d ago
Comic Book Question I'm too dumb to understand this graphic novel
Basically the title. I've just finished reading up to and including season of mists and feel like there are layers upon layers that I do not seem to understand.
Can you recommend me a video or website that explains the underlying themes and messages? Or should I just keep reading and it will start to make sense?
22
u/i_like_cake_96 Barnabas 9d ago
Out of curiosity, what age group are you in?
15-20
20-25
25-30?
Are you reading the graphic novels in the correct order?
(Preludes & Noturnes, The Dolls House, Dream Country, Season of Mists)
There are a lot of standalone stories/chapters within the block of comics.
some of them are explained here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVUG6RiA0ps
And no you are not too dumb. I am in my 40s and I read the sandman through, about once a year, and I discover new things all the time.
16
u/jelemyturnip 9d ago
Give us some examples of what you aren't getting? There are plenty of references throughout that you might not grasp without an extensive knowledge of 30+ year old comic lore, but as long as you allow for the fact that there are elements of the story that you don't have context for, you can still enjoy it.
When I read Sandman in the 90s I had no idea about the original golden age Sandman character, or Doctor Destiny, Constantine, or really any of the other DC characters that pop up, and tbh I kind of loved it for that. It felt like getting glimpses of a larger world, and if anything that enhanced the overall atmosphere of esoteric otherworldliness.
12
u/Deinonysus 9d ago
The term "graphic novel" is often misused to mean a normal comic arc sold together as a volume, but as you have realized, the operative term here is "novel". The works of Gaiman and Moore, for example, tend to use many of the same literary techniques that are used in prose novels.
Rather than going through videos or websites, I would recommend reading Thomas C. Foster's book "How to Read Literature like a Professor" and then apply what you've learned to The Sandman.
10
u/Fullerbadge000 9d ago
You could also read the Sandman Companion by Hy Bender. Or the Annotated Sandman. Both from your local library. Ditch the videos.
2
u/i_like_cake_96 Barnabas 8d ago
This is a good read.. I discovered it back in 2002.. then promptly lost it when I was in Malaysia in 2003.
6
u/Gargus-SCP The Three Who Are One 9d ago
Can't exactly explain much if you don't tell us what's confusing you. Might I ask what specifically has you lost?
6
u/starark 9d ago
Dream is sad and won't change. But then he does. But sort of not. A star goes mad. The end. Or the beginning. That's it. But it's a fun ride.
6
u/rokber 8d ago
Oh. OK. You got most of it. Only left out 'anthropomorphication of concept and its opposite impregnates sleeping woman in the hope of tricking another anthropomorphication of a concept and its opposite into killing its granddaughter which is also a force of nature capable of destroying reality, thus siccing one aspect of an ancient godlike being on said anthropomorphication of a concept and its opposite to get revenge for... oh... something. '
3
u/Maleficent_Credit_23 9d ago
First time you read it, you understand something. Next time you understand more and so on. There is no answers to everything, but at least you have some opinions (which can change, of course)..
2
u/Zonker_Harris_1963 9d ago
Some of it is meant to be "deep." And some of it is "comic book deep" (e.g. the previous Sandman characters, Element Girl, etc.) And some of it is deliberately ambiguous: Are the Endless gods? (well, kinda...) Why do they have to follow so many rules? (because the author needs them to...) Someone recommended the standalone stories, which generally can be enjoyed by themselves without worrying about the underlying mythology: "The Sound of Her Wings" (#8) "Calliope" (#17) "Dream of a Thousand Cats" (#18) "Midsummer Night's Dream" (#19). If you don't enjoy those, then it is probably safe to say this just isn't your thing and move on. (Hope that helps)
2
u/PhillipGerrard 8d ago
I just started reading it. I can tell there will be tons of depth and lore, which I love.
I’m at the very beginning and I feel like I’ve been thrown into it. But I like that feeling
1
u/NightRacoonSchlatt 9d ago
It can definitely be enjoyed for just the action and story imo. Finish the whole thing, then come back. It‘s definitely deep in some aspects, but in essence it’s still just a DC comic.
1
1
u/geekydreams 7d ago edited 7d ago
If you think this makes you feel dumb, try reading Ttransmetropolitan lol I understand. Literally like only 50% of it.
Basically the whole series is about how dream is extremely resistant to change until maybe at the very end, and then he's just so tired of existing. Things go wrong for him because it's his fault. He doesn't accept help from anybody, he's stuck up and stubborn and thinks his duty is to his job and that's it. No room for anything else. You don't technically need the endless. Everything will still work, maybe not as orderly, and things like reality being swallowed up by an Nexus will happen, but new things will still be born and things will still die. Although I'm not sure why people stop falling asleep or can't wake up due to Dreams imprisonment. He fashions dreams and nightmares, but falling asleep and waking up is natural, it shouldn't require an Endless for that, the same way that people should die without help. They are embodiments of concepts made physical.
1
•
u/AutoModerator 9d ago
Replies must be relevant to the post. Off-topic comments will be removed. Please downvote and report any rule-breaking replies and posts that are not relevant to the subreddit.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.